Range



Oct. 29, 1935. w D, ANTRM 2,019,381

RANGE Filed Nov. 6, 1934 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE RANGE Application November 6, 1934, Serial No. 751,782

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ranges and has particular relation to the construction of the burner top plates thereof.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a burner top plate for cooking ranges having means forming a part thereof operable to prevent smothering of the burner flame when a cooking vessel is placed thereabove.

A further object of the invention is to provide a burner top plate of the character set forth including novel means for supporting a cooking vessel above the plane of the surface of the said top plate.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a burner top plate of the character set forth having ribs formed on the upper surface thereof for supporting a cooking vessel in spaced relation with respect to the surface of said top plate, said ribs extending from the burner flame openings from a point adjacent the periphery thereof.

Other objects and features of the invention and the details of construction thereof are set forth hereinafter and shown-in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of a burner top plate embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section on line 2, 2, Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, numeral I indicates a top plate for the burner section of a gas or other fuel burner type of cooking range and is provided with the customary flame openings 2 therein conveniently positioned so as to reside above the burners proper. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the flame openings are provided with a circumferential flange 3 which is offset below the plane of the top plate, and arranged to support a grill or utensil supporting member 4 so that the upper surface of the lat ter is substantially coplanar with the surface of the top plate I as shown.

In the present instance the flanges 3 are provided with slots 5 spaced respectively at intervals of ninety degrees (90) thereabout and are arranged for engagement by similarly spaced lugs 40. at the underside of the members 4. In addition a plurality of lugs 6 project inwardly from the flange 3 at equally spaced intervals for the purpose of supporting cooking vessels in the burner flame openings in the event that the supporting rings or grills 4 are removed therefrom. The inter-engagement of the lugs and slots just described functions to prevent relative rotation of the members 4 when once seated on the flanges 3 in the flame openings 2.

As shown in the drawing, the members 4 are provided with a number of ribs 1 disposed radially of said members 4 at intervals of ninety degrees 5 (90) about the surface thereof, the said ribs being of such a height that the upper edges thereof are disposed above the plane of the surface of the top plate I and positioned in substantial alignment with the lugs at the underside of the members 4 which engage the slots 5 in the flanges 3. In the present instance the ribs 1 project beyond the periphery of the members 4 and are arranged to overlie the top surface of the plate I as indicated by reference numeral 8 on the 15 drawing.

In addition to the ribs 1 just described, other ribs 9, of a height substantially equal to said ribs 1, are disposed radially of the members 4 and equally spaced intermediate adjacent ribs I. The ribs 9 however, do not project beyond the periphery of the members 4 to as great a distance as do the ribs 1. I

A particular feature of the invention resides in the provision of a series of ribs I8 formed in the 25 surface of the top plate, and conveniently positioned with respect to each other and the burner openings 2 to provide a structure capable of sup-' porting cooking vessels thereon in spaced relation with respect to the surface of the top plate I. 30 The ribs II) are preferably formed in the surface of the plate I simultaneously with the casting or stamping out thereof.

In the present instance the ribs Hi have their end portions II disposed perpendicularly to the circumference or edge of the flame openings 2 at spaced intervals of ninety degrees (90) substantialy in alignment with the slots 5 in the flanges 3. As shown the end portions l I of the ribs II) are formed to include a pair of spaced parallel arms 40 I2 which cooperate to form a slot I3 for the reception of the projecting\ends 8 of the ribs I on the members 4, thus forming in effect a continuous series or net work of associated ribs extending over the entire surface of the top plate I. w

The present invention is particularly adaptable to modern range construction wherein the use of burner top plates having a substantially solid surface has been almost universally adopted. With the advent of the use of these solid top plates diificulty was immediately encountered in the fact that when cooking vessels were used having a bottom surface area suflicient to cover the burner flame openings 2 the flame did not receive sufficient air for combustion purposes and was soon smothered.

In the present invention, the above difliculty has been entirely eliminated. By the provision of the ribs 1 and 9 on the members 4 the average sized cooking vessel is supported in spaced relation to the surface of the top plate I, and by provision of the ribs it in the top plate proper it is possible to support the largest cooking vessel possible on the top plate in spaced relation with respect to the surface thereof. This latter construction has been found particularly desirable where utensils of the larger sizes are used because of the present tendency to make the same either with a separate bottom piece secured to the wall structure in a seam which extends below the plane of the bottom as shown, or to form them with an integral bottom having a concave cross section to provide the increased strength and rigidity necessary because of the size. In instances of utensils constructed in the above manner it will be noticed the same must be supported at their peripheral edges in spaced relation to the top plate surface and the provision of the ribs Iii in the top plate effectually accomplish the above and eliminate entirely any pos-'- sibility of the flame being smothered. by the presence of a utensil over the flame openings.

It will be noticed with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing that the ribs 1 and 9 on the member 4 are of greater height than the top plate ribs l0 but it is pointed out that this relationship forms no part of the invention and the ribs may be of equal height, or the plate ribs it! may be of a height even greater than the ribs '5 and 9 of the members 4.

While the details of construction and specific features of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of description, it is not intended that the same be limited thereto but that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention where within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A substantially solid surfaced top plate for the burner section of a cooking range, said top plate having burner flame openings therein and upwardly projecting ribs in the solid surface portion thereof, the ends of said ribs including relatively spaced arm portions cooperating to form open ended slots adjacent the periphery of said burner flame openings, grills removably 5 seated in the burner flame openings, and upwardly projecting ribs on said grills, the ends 01' said ribs extending beyond the periphery of the rings and engaging the slots in the end portions of the ribs in the top plate to form a continuous 1 series of ribs for supporting cooking vessels in spaced relation with respect to the surface of said top plate.

2. A substantially solid surfaced top plate for the burner section of a cooking range, said top 1 plate having bumer flame openings therein, flanges extending inwardly of the periphery of said burner flame openings, ribs formed in the solid surface portion of the top plate having their end portions including relatively spaced :0 arms cooperating to form open ended slots perpendicular to and adjacent the periphery of the burner flame openings, grills removably seated on the flange in said flame openings, and ribs on said grills, the ends of said ribs extending 25 over the surface of the top plate beyond the periphery of the flame openings and engaging the open ended slots in the end portions of the ribs in said top plate.

3. A substantially solid surfaced top plate for 30 the burner section of a cooking range, said top' plate having burner flame openings therein;- flanges having slots therein extending inwardly of said burner flame openings, ribs formed in the solid surface portion of the top plate hav- 8!! ing their end portions including relatively spaced arms cooperating to form open ended slots perpendicular to and adjacent the periphery of the burner flame openings, grills removably seated on the flanges in said flame openings, lugs on said grills arranged to engage the slots in said flanges, and ribs also on the grills, the ends of said ribs extending over the surface of the top plate beyond the periphery of the flame open ings and engaging the open ended slots in the 5 end portions of the ribs in said top plate.

WILLIAM D. ANTRIM. 

